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B2B or back to birds and back to Old Moor RSPB to do it the waders are coming back thru so I decided on a change for this weekend leave the trap alone and catch up on some birding.

Bittern hide was the first port of call for the reported Kingfishers that were showing well , the hide was full needless to say, and within ten minutes of waiting one kingfisher gave good views and a few people got good photos, i didn’t. We waited an hour the bird reappeared to our left this time due to people leaving I was in a good place, it stayed in the reeds for a good ten minutes, needless to say at a distance, then took off flying out of sight, no landing on  the post this time, so we left.

After leaving the hide we caught up with an easier photogenic creature Dragonflies, there were Ruddy and Common Darters along with Migrant Hawker which unlike the Kingfisher gave us some wonderful poses, great models.

We walked then down to Wath Ings hide taking photos of the Darters as we went, on arriving at the Wath Ings hide we soon caught sight of a few wader species Black tailed Godwits, Dunlin (3), Green Sandpiper (5), Spotted Redshank (5), and Ruff (2) and along with the waders Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black headed Gulls, Little Grebe, Starlings

We then walked back to the wader scrape hide and its whilst doing so I found a Female Common Blue Butterfly a well-worn individual but a first it was, and a long side the Argus a Common Blue Butterfly so a good comparison was made. Other butterflies for the day were there Speckled Wood these were seen in various places around the reserve and a Comma along Green Lane, eventually from the hide a nice surprise was seeing a Pintail. 

The family hide is where we saw plenty of Sand Martin and a Common Sandpiper, a couple of Stock Dove, plenty of Linnets. In at the bird garden Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 

Species list fot the day :-

Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pintail, Grey Heron, Blackbird, Starling, Linnet, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Kingfisher, Magpie, Sand Martin, Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Black tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Lapwing, Black headed Gull, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Cormorant, BROWN ARGUS Butterfly, Common Blue Butterfly, Comma Butterfly, Speckled Wood Butterfly, Azure Damselfly, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter

Common Blue Butterfly (♀)

One of the many Common Darters

Ruddy Darter

I must admit I’ve got behind due to life getting in the way and me having too much to do at this time of year, so this entry will be a two night moth night with last week’s towards the end. The weather forecast for the weekend of the 15^th wasn’t looking good only plausible night would be Friday into Saturday; I was going to be up early anyway due to the Rutland Water Birdfair so an extra hour would be okay. The before bed check didn’t hold any surprises this week with only Light Brown Apple Moths and Large Yellow Underwings taking to the light so far, unlike last week’s Orange Swift (0015). The early morning check at 6am (getting later now as we roll in to the Autum/Winter months) however did bring another new species for the garden, this time a micro moth called Udea lutealis (1388), and a worn one it was too. After the count we headed off the Birdfair where we met our hosts for this year’s holidays (watch this space) and also saw my first Deaths Head Hawkmoth (captive reared) on the Butterfly Conservation stand along with some caught moths from the previous night, Black Arches, Jersey Tiger and an old favourite Canary shouldered Thorn which I caught last year back in Dorset, here’s my list from the 15^th

1. Common Marbled Carpet – 1764 (1)
2. Common Rustic agg (3)
3. Dark Arches – 2321 (1)
4. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (11)
5. Lesser Yellow Underwing – 2112 (1)
6. Light Brown Apple Moth – 998 (3)
7. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (1)
8. Pug Sp (3)
9. Udea lutealis – 1388 (1)
10. Willow Beauty – 1937 (1)

And the list from the 8^th with Orange Swift being new to the garden

1. Cabbage Moth – 2154 (1)
2. Clay – 2193 (1)
3. Common Rustic agg (3)
4. Dark Arches – 2321 (1)
5. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (6)
6. Lesser Broad bordered Yellow Underwing – 2111 (1)
7. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (1)
8. Orange Swift – 0015 (1)

Udea lutealis

Orange Swift

Death’s Head Hawkmoth

Another night with the trap firmly planted in the back garden, forecast was good for Sunday into Monday which I didn’t want to do  due to work, I like doing the Friday in to Saturday but due to rain moving in for Friday/Saturday nights Sunday was the option, however this changed so it was a Saturday into Sunday, 3 new moths species for the garden (Definatly a Yellow theme to the night) so here is the list and a couple of photos to enjoy

1. Common Rustic agg (3)
2. Dark Arches – 2321 (3)
3. Dotted Clay – 2130 (1)
4. Garden Rose Tortix – 1048 (1)
5. Heart and Dart – 2089 (2)
6. Ingrailed Clay – 2120 (2)
7. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (17)
8. Least Yellow Underwing – 2112 (1)
9. Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing -2111 (1)
10. Lesser Yellow Underwing – 2109 (1)
11. Light Arches – 2322 (1)
12. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (1)
13. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (2)
14. Pug Sp (1)
15. Swallow tailed Moth – 1922 (1)

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Least Yellow Underwing

Dotted Clay

Another Moth night this time back at home in the garden were its nice and safe from midges, we’d had a meal out so the trap was put out before hand and was in full swing on my return, so I had a sneak look, Swallow tailed was in and a Scalloped Oak, and then what appeared to be a thorn moth on the side so I was hoping this would be trapped by morning. Bright and early once again so heres the findings

1. Cabbage Moth – 2154 (1)
2. Common Rustic agg (3)
3. Dark Arches – 2321 (3)
4. Garden carpet – 1728 (1)
5. Garden grass Veneer – 1293 (1)
6. Grey/Dark Dagger (1)
7. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (15)
8. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (4)
9. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (1)
10. Riband wave – 1713 (1)
11. Scalloped Oak – 1921 (1)
12. Spindle Ermine – 427 (1)
13. Swallow Tailed Moth – 1922 (1)
14. The Uncertain – 2381 (1)
15. Water Veneer – 1331 (1)
16. Willow Beauty – 1937 (1)

Grey/Dark Dagger

Spindle Ermine

I was in a dilemma for this week’s night of Moth trapping, the Friday night into Saturday had a forecast of rain, however the Thursday night was good, warm night giving a min of 15° with a nice easterly wind at 5mph, the sting was work Friday morning getting in at 6am so I’d have to be up very early if the trap went out Thursday night.  The decision was to put out the trap Thursday night,  get up 30mins earlier than normal, empty the trap and then on to work aiming for a 6:30am start so I could be away for 10:30am, plan made.

Friday morning came, I was up on time and approached the trap for 5:15am, the first Moth seen was a Swallow tailed, smiley face, then I saw the rest it was full, looks like I was going to be in work later than planned. I started a quick count and to see what I could ID straight away, highlights were the Swallow tailed’ (5), Burnished Brass (2), Mother of Pearl (1), and a Willow Beauty. At the end of the session it turned out to be the best night’s moth trapping for me so far with 24 species trapped, that was ID, with near on a hundred moths (lots of none ID micros) not forgetting the none moth of a Boatman beetle (1)  PS I was in work for 6:35am

Italic are new for the trap, Bold lifers

1. Aphomia sociella or Bee Moth – 1428 (1)
2. Burnished Brass – 2434 (2)
3. Clay – 2193 (1)
4. Common Wainscot – 2199 (2)
5. Common Footman – 2050(1)
6. Common Rustic agg (6)
7. Dark Arches – 2321 (10)
8. Foxglove Pug – 1817 (1)
9. Garden grass Veneer – 1293 (1)
10. Gothic – 2136 (3)
11. Heart and Dart – 2089 (1)
12. Large Yellow Underwing – 2107 (11)
13. Marbled Beauty – 2293 (13)
14. Marbled Minor agg (1)
15. Middle barred Minor – 2340 (1)
16. Mother of Pearl – 1405 (1)
17. Riband wave – 1713 (9)
18. Scalloped Oak – 1921 (1)
19. Small Fan-foot – 2492 (1)
20. Smoky Wainscot – 2198 (1)
21. Swallow tailed Moth – 1922 (5)
22. The Flame – 2098 (1)
23. The Uncertain – 2381 (1)
24. Willow Beauty – 1937 (1)

Swallow tailed Moth

Mother of Pearl

Burnished Brass

Small Fan-foot

Time for moths again, I started tonight down at the place I work in  the nearby wooded area but had to abandoned it due to excessive amount of midges present plus I had only caught 3 moths (see this LINK) so I relocated back to the back garden. Whilst I was setting up I had already caught sight of 2 moths (Large Yellow Underwing and Light Arches) on the nearby Buddleia.

I was reward with the relocation the morning after with 13 species for the night with 3 new ones

Bold are new for the trap, Bold and Italic lifers

1. Bright line Brown eye (1)
2. Dark Arches (2)
3. Garden Carpet (2)
4. Garden Grass Veneer (2)
5. Light Arches (1)
6. Marbled Beauty (2)
7. Pale Mottled Willow (1)
8. Riband Wave (3)
9. Scalloped Oak (5)
10. Silver ground Carpet (2)
11. The Flame (1)
12. The Uncertain (1)
13. Yellow Shell (1)

Pictures of the new moths

The Flame

Light Arches

Pale Mottled Willow

and a favourite Scalloped Oak

Well here we go again another chance at some more mothing, tonight’s forecast was a clear sky to begin with maybe a light rain shower between 1am and 3am, half moon with a min temp of 11° and a 3mph wind from a NE direction.

Trap was up and running at 9pm with a few micro moths taking an interest mainly Light Brown Apple Moths, bed for me at 10pm but I was up again at 5:30am. I could see on my approach to the trap that the forecast was right when I noticed the rain drops on the perpex sheets and damp egg boxes, it seemed quiet on first inspection in the trap but it soon turned out to be my best night’s trapping so far at home with at least 15 species trapped and a few unknown’s mainly micros, one being a possible Eudonia or a Scoparia species, inspection of genitalia would sort it but we don’t do that, highlight of the catch has to be my first Plain Golden Y Moth…heres the list BOLD being a new species for me

Thanks to everyone who helped with some of the Moth ID’s especially BC_Yorkshire  🙂

1. Common Footman (2) new for trap
2. Dark Arches (1) new for trap
3. Dusky Brocade (2)
4. Garden Grass Veener (2)
5. Gothic (1)
6. Large Yellow Underwing (2)
7. Light Brown Apple Moth (3)
8. Marbled Beauty (1)
9. Marbled Minor agg (1)
10. Plain Golden Y (1)
11. Purple Clay (1)
12. Riband wave (1)
13. Scalloped Oak (1)
14. Silver Ground Carpet (1)
15. Uncertain (1)

Plain Golden Y

Common Footman

Scalloped Oak

Gothic

Marbled Beauty

Another moth night the trap was up and running again after an unexpected breakdown for a couple of week, what had happened I don’t know. The trap was stripped cleaned, fuse checked and was ok, put back together battery charged and was found to be okay!!!! So we had a new moon min temp was 9°c it was cloudy with a 4mph Northerly wind and a things were going right for a chance I was expecting a good number of moths…..two

• (2107) Large Yellow Underwing (1) new for the year
• (2170) Varied Coronet (1) New Species and a grade 3 moth for VC63 [info can be found here at Yorkshire Moths Site (PRESS)

So the numbers were rubbish but the Varied Coronet more than made up for it

Varied Coronet

Varied Coronet

It had come to the point were I needed time out from life again so I decided on a new venue and  since the weather was good and hot that venue was to be Leven Canal [Website Location] a good place for Dragonflies apparently and it delivered.

I pulled into the small car park at about 9am and made my way along the footpath (which is off the car park area not across the bridge) keeping my eye out for various things, the best dragonfly area is about a 20-30 mins walk off, the footpath is in good order with the vegetation kept in good order the walk was no problem.

Various warblers could be heard as I made my walk Skylark, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Yellowhammer and a Cuckoo. The birds overhead were Swallow, Swift, Common Buzzard. It was a fair walk in the morning heat be I was soon at a point where I could look out for various dragonflies Four Spotted Chaser was the first and they were here in abundance, then it was down to looking for the target species.

I was glad I brought my scope, the Opticron Mighty Midget, light and packable. I scanned the lily pads for Damselflies and once you’ve seen one you wonder why you struggled, Azure was the first along with Blue tailed then the one I was looking for, a bigger damselfly by far compared to an Azure next to it, Large Red eyed Damselfly [New species], easy to pick out with the black thorax and of course  lacking any antehumeral stripes, and always staying far enough away from the camera. Common Blue  Damselfly was also found but alas the other target species was not, the Hairy Dragonfly escaped me for today,but I did find Brown Hawkers and Emperor Dragonflies.

Birds in the reeds which I had great views of all were Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler , Reed Bunting and Moorhens with Pheasants calling in the nearby fields

A few butterflies were seen during the day Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Large White, Small Skipper, and Ringlet

Four Spotted Chaser

Rutpela maculata Longhorn Beetle

Mullein moth catapillar

Red Admiral

Leven Canal

I decided on an early evening outing to the old colliery site at Bullcliffe and wish I hadn’t, the hay fever kicked in really bad, but the nature was good which more than made up for it.

On arrival  I started in the first right hand field and here I found Common Blue, Azure and Blue tailed Damselflies along with the newly emerged Meadow Brown and Ringlet Butterflies also with Common Blue Butterfly, Small Heath and Large Skipper Butterflies. A fewmoths were seen Common Carpet, Yellow Shell, Shaded Broad Bar and a species of Plume Moth [Stenoptilia zophodactylus??]

Birds were about with Yellowhammers, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff,  and Common Whitethroat and with a Hairy Sheild Bug and a Golden bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle seen, so I was off home with a smile a very runny nose, sneezing, eyes itching and tears, roll on winter 😉

Small Heath Butterfly

Azure Damselfly

Sloe Shield Bug

Plume Moth